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PQ challenges Legault to prove Canada is a good deal for Quebecers

Premier François Legault is set to present his shopping list of demands to federal party leaders.Photo by MARTIN OUELLET-DIOTTE/ AFP/Getty Images

QUEBEC — The Parti Québecois is calling on Premier François Legault to show Quebecers how his brand of nationalism is working to Quebec’s advantage and that his argument to stay in Canada makes sense.

A day before Legault presents his own shopping list of demands to the federal election leaders on the same day as the National Assembly resumes sitting, the PQ reminded him of the many ones already on the books in the Coalition Avenir Québec’s 2015 program.

Distroscale

Ten involve constitutional modifications and eight are administrative agreements the CAQ said it wanted to negotiate with Ottawa.

So far the CAQ has tried to push two issues on the list — a demand for a single income tax return for Quebecers, and more powers to select immigrants — and both were rejected by Ottawa, PQ interim leader Pascal Bérubé said at a news conference before a party caucus.

“The test in this election, for this self-proclaimed nationalist government, is to propose how it sees the future of Quebec inside Canada,” Bérubé said.

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“Because he (Legault) told us he was at ease with Canada, that he had reconciled himself with Canada, that it is in Quebec’s interests to stay in Canada. So he faces a test. Now it’s time for him to put his speeches into action.”

“We are waiting for the premier to explain … what are the advantages of being in a federal regime for Quebecers,” added Joliette MNA Véronique Hivon.

The two said they don’t think Legault — a former PQ politician who abandoned sovereignty — has made much progress, and in their view the CAQ government is nationalist in name only.

“They accept the same (federal) regime as the Liberal Party,” Bérubé said. “The only difference is they wave the flag more often.”

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For the PQ, the ultimate form of nationalism is independence, Bérubé said.

“It seems to me the most responsible path is independence,” he said. “They (in the CAQ) made their choice, which we respect, but ours has not changed.”

Asked which powers a PQ government would want to pry out of Ottawa’s hands, Bérubé answered: “We want them all.”

Earlier this month, Quebec’s Liberals also waded into the federal election and presented a shopping list of demands.